by Kim Chalmers

The thunder or rumbling of motorcycles overpowered the sound of crashing waves as Pensacola Beach opened its arms to the Thunder Beach Bike Rally for one exciting day. As a Pensacola, Florida native, I’ve seen the devastation of storms from Frederick to Ivan; however, our coastal towns had never seen the catastrophic devastation of a storm like Hurricane Michael, destroying everything in its 350-mile wide path, including Panama City and Mexico Beach.

A determined Event Director and a sympathetic community rallied together to move the event to Pensacola. They made sure it had all the things that make Thunder Beach such a great Rally, including a great bike show, clothing booths, food, multiple custom motorcycle vendors, lots of entertainment and a scenic ride from Pensacola Beach to Perdido Key to the Famous, Flora Bama for even more music and fun.

The outpouring of support heated up an otherwise chilly day and everyone seemed to have the same purpose, to keep the traditions of Thunder Beach Bike Rally while showing their support for those whose lives have been forever altered by the recent storm. This was a very special Thunder Beach Bike Rally, not only because donations from vendors and tickets sales went to help storm victims and restoration efforts, but as the bikes rumbled into to Casino Beach under the widely recognized beach ball water tower, I was reminded that the fortitude of bikers was stronger than any storm.